Benchmarking Summer Heat: Across Blacktown's Diverse Urban Landscapes

This report presents findings from a research project investigating microclimatic variation across Blacktown City, NSW, Australia, during the summer of 2023/24. The motivation for this research was to create an evidence base of local summer temperatures across the diverse lansdcapes and suburbs of Blacktown City. During the project, average near-surface air temperatures varied across the local government area (LGA) by almost 2.5°C. The coolest areas were forested locations at Shanes Park in Minchinbury, and the Nurragingy Reserve in Rooty Hill. In contrast, the warmest areas were found in large-scale industrial estates of Arndell Park and Marsden Park as well as in low-rise residential areas in the suburbs of Parklea and Willmot. On 9 December 2023, the hottest day of the generally mild summer of 2023/24, maximum air temperatures reached 47°C in Bungarribee and The Ponds. These extremes were 4-7°C above those recorded at official weather stations in North Parramatta and Hosley Park.